Do you know what Search.searchflm.com is?
In this article, we will talk about a suspicious search engine called Search.searchflm.com. If you do not understand how you managed to add it to the browser, reading this article is a must. You should know the application is classified as a browser hijacker due to its capability to modify particular browser settings. Also, some users may let the threat enter the system unknowingly since it travels with an extension called Fast Local Maps. Unfortunately, instead of a program that would give you directions and help you navigate, you get a questionable search engine and a couple of bookmarks, which could be easily added without installing any software. In fact, Search.searchflm.com is not only rather useless but also potentially harmful, and so our researchers recommend its deletion. If you are disappointed in this application too, we encourage you to use the removal guide available below and eliminate it.
The extension this search engine is bundled with is known as Fast Local Maps. On its official homepage called fastlocalmaps.com, the add-on is promoted as a program that should provide directions and maps. However, when you click the installation button and agree to add on the browser, the software only adds a couple of bookmarks and sets Search.searchflm.com as user’s default search engine, homepage, or new tab page. The added bookmarks lead to web pages that actually provides maps and directions, e.g. google.com/maps, bing.com/maps, wego.here.com/traffic, and other. Just like it was mentioned in the beginning, anyone can create the same bookmarks without installing any extensions, so anyway you look at it the software is simply useless.
Search.searchflm.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Furthermore, both the extension and Search.searchflm.com can settle on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. In addition to the installed add-on, the browser hijacker might alter particular browser data. As a result, the search engine should be loaded each time you open the affected browser, a new tab, or enter a search query into the search box. If you already used the application or were considering it, you should be aware that it may show you modified Yahoo search results. It means users might find additional pop-up ads, banners, sponsored links, or other suspicious advertisements from the threat’s third-party partners. The reason it would be best not to interact with such content is because it could originate from malicious websites.
Thus, after clicking these ads, the user himself could be redirected to potentially harmful web pages. To provide you with an example, such questionable sites might try to steal your personal data or infect your computer with Trojans, viruses, ransomware, and other malware. Also, users might come across advertisements that could promote similar extensions to Fast Local Maps, browser hijackers like Search.searchflm.com, or other threats, e.g. potentially unwanted applications, adware, unreliable toolbars, and so on. If encountering such potentially harmful content is not something you would like to experience, we advise you not to take any chances with this browser hijacker and get rid of it from the system as soon as possible.
More experienced users could try to erase the application manually if they are up for such task. To assist our readers, our researchers have prepared a removal guide that shows how to eliminate the search engine step by step; these instructions are located just below the article. As for users who believe deleting the application manually is too difficult we would recommend installing reputable antimalware software. With such tool users can locate and erase the hijacker or other threats that could be hiding in the computer quite quickly. Plus, you could leave the tool on the system and allow it to protect the computer from malware and similar threats.
Remove Search.searchflm.com
Internet Explorer
- Access the RUN (Windows Key+R).
- Type Regedit, press OK and look for this directory: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Choose a value name called Start Page and right-click it.
- Press Modify then instead of http://search.searchflm.com insert another link and select OK.
- Search for this location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- Find a key named as 8196f6b8e8567da2, right-click it and select Delete.
- Access the Internet Explorer and tap ALT+X.
- Select Manage add-ons and press Toolbars and extensions.
- Pick the unwanted extension (Fast Local Maps) and delete it.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open the File Explorer (Windows Key+E).
- Look for exact same path: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{user profile}\extensions
- Search for a file named as @Maps.xpi, right-click it and press Delete.
- Find the next path: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{user profile}
- Right-click a file called prefs.js and choose to launch it with Notepad.
- Look for this exact line: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://search.searchflm.com”).
- Instead of http://search.searchflm.com place another link and save these changes before closing prefs.js.
Google Chrome
- Open the File Explorer (Windows Key+E).
- Look for the same directory: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
- Right-click folder named as cedomeolakjbglaoplcneanmidcleejh and press Delete.
- Find the given path: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
- Locate a folder called cedomeolakjbglaoplcneanmidcleejh, right-click it and choose Delete.
Erase Search.searchflm.com from other Google Chrome profiles
- Press Windows Key+E.
- Search for exact same paths:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\{Profile*}\Extensions
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\{Profile*}\Extensions - Look for folders named as cedomeolakjbglaoplcneanmidcleejh, right-click them separately and click Delete.
- Find directories listed below:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage - Search for listed files and remove them:
chrome-extension_cedomeolakjbglaoplcneanmidcleejh_0.localstorage-journal
chrome-extension_cedomeolakjbglaoplcneanmidcleejh_0.localstorage - Look for data called Preferences and Secure Preferences in the following path: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
- Right-click these files one by one and pick Delete.
In non-techie terms:
Search.searchflm.com is a browser hijacker that is spread bundled with Fast Local Maps extension. Therefore, you might accept this search engine without realizing it. The reason we would not advise you to use it is because the provided results could be modified by placing unreliable third-party advertisements among them. Naturally, we believe it is best to eliminate the threat since it can be easily replaced with a more reliable search engine. If you think the same, take a look at the removal guide placed above or install a reputable antimalware tool and erase the hijacker.